Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 | 3:58 p.m.
UNLV plans to plant about 3,000 trees in Southern Nevada over the next five years with a $5 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
The funding is part of a $1 billion urban forestry program to plant trees in urban areas to combat the heat island effect.
Alison Sloat, a project lead and associate professor-in-residence at UNLV’s College of Sciences, said Las Vegas is one of the fastest-warming cities on earth and has some of the worst urban heat islands in the country.
“The best way to fight that is to expand our tree canopy,” she said. “The trees will provide additional shade for pedestrians, help reduce air and surface temperatures and improve air quality.”
The program will include education programs for Clark County residents on the important role trees play in cities and which drought-tolerant trees are best suited to the region.
Trees will be planted on public and private land near UNLV and parts of Las Vegas.
UNLV is one of seven grant recipients in Nevada and about 400 nationwide.
“These investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heat waves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
UNLV will partner on the project with the Nature Conservancy, Nevada Division of Forestry, UNR Extension, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, the Clark County School District and Nevada Partners.
